SIOUX CITY, IA – The Sioux City Explorers announced today that the club has released INF Dre Gleason, LHP Hunter Ackerman, RHP Marcus Jensen, and RHP Andrew Thurman. The Explorers roster is now at the American Association regular season league maximum of 23 active players. The X’s open the 2018 season this Thursday night against the Lincoln Saltdogs at 7:05 PM at Haymarket Park in Lincoln, NE. The 2018 Home Opener is set for Friday, May 25th at 7:05PM as the X’s host the Cleburne Railroaders for game one of a scheduled 3 game series.

2018 Sioux City Explorers Roster

OF Jay Austin

2nd round pick by the Astros in 2008. Has stolen 229 career bases, including a career high 54 (led entire California League) in 2010.

INF Jay Baum

Drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2014, named Organizational All-Star in 2016. Set a new Australian Baseball League record batting .439 this winter.

RHP Geoff Broussard

Spent parts of the last two seasons pitching at the Triple-A level. Pitched for the X’s in 2014 going 8-1.

OF Luis Durango

Spent parts of 3 seasons playing in the MLB (2009-2011) for the Padres and Astros (career .292 MLB batting average). Stole a career high 46 bases in 2012, which led the entire International League (Triple-A).

RHP James Dykstra

Spent last season in the Texas Rangers organization, pitching 21 games at the Triple-A level.

RHP Tyler Fallwell

Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2016 and spent previous two seasons in their organization.

RHP Ryan Flores

Led the Explorers in strikeouts (93 in just 78 innings pitched) and in games pitched (44) in 2017.

RHP Holden Helmink

Hard throwing righty drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2014.

LHP Ryan Horstman

4th round pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2013. Spent all 5 professional seasons in the Mariners organization, spending the majority of the last two at Double-A.

C/UTILITY Daniel Jackson

Played collegiately at Long Beach State and was named Second Team All-Big West selection in 2016.

RHP Taylor Jordan

Pitched parts of 3 seasons for the MLB Washington Nationals (2013-2015). Missed entire 2017 season due to a second Tommy John surgery.

RHP Eric Karch

Spent two years in the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organizations each, reaching Double-A.

C Dylan Kelly

Hit .294 while holding the teams second highest on base percentage (.375) for the X’s in 2017.

INF David Kerian

Made roster as a spring training non-roster invitee. 2015 Big 10 Player of the Year. Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 9th round in 2015. Played at Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City, IA.

OF Michael Lang

Currently holds Sioux City franchise records for most runs in a season (83, 2016), most triples in a season (10, 2015), and most stolen bases in a season (45, 2015). Also holds the Explorers career record for triples with 25.

RHP Parker Markel

Spent 7 seasons in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. Split the 2015 and 2016 seasons between the Rays Double-A and Triple-A affiliates.

RHP Luis Mateo

Spent 7 seasons in the New York Mets organization. Appeared in 18 games for both their Triple-A and Double-A affiliates.

INF Dexture McCall

Drafted by the Houston Astros in 2014. Spent 4 seasons in Astros organization and was named a 2016 Astros MiLB Organizational All-Star.

RHP Keith Picht

6th professional season (all in indy ball). 3.89 ERA last season for X’s.

INF Nate Samson

Career .322 batting average while playing for the X’s. 2016 American Association Player of the Year (1st league MVP in X’s franchise history). Recorded 137 hits in 2016 (Explorers franchise record).

LHP Patrick Schuster

Played in the big leagues in 2016 (Oakland A’s and Philadelphia Phillies). 2016 Pacific Coast League (Triple-A) All-Star owning a 1.16 ERA while recording 7 saves.

RHP Justin Vernia

Signed with the X’s late last season from Gonzaga University going 3-2 in 6 starts.

INF Nelson Ward

Spent 3 seasons in Mariners organization and 1 in Padres organization making it as high as Double-A. Owns a career .973 fielding percentage, committing only 44 errors in 1,631 total chances.

The Explorers 2018 season opener is on Thursday, May 17th at Haymarket Park in Lincoln, NE versus the Lincoln Saltdogs. The X’s home opener at Mercy Field at Lewis & Clark Park will be on Friday, May 25th versus the Cleburne Railroaders with first pitch set for 7:05 PM.